Police searching for missing teenager Jayden Parkinson are focusing their investigation on a grave next to a church. Thames Valley Police said the hunt for Jayden had led them to the Great Western Cemetery by All Saints' Church in Didcot, Oxfordshire.
An officer on scene at the All Saints' Church in Didcot
The 17-year-old girl disappeared on December 3 after she was last seen leaving the town's railway station at about 4.30pm. Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Murray, who is leading the investigation, said police had received "significant and highly relevant information" which led their search efforts to a specific grave.
"We're in the process of securing this grave and would like to emphasise that the family connected with this grave have been informed," he said. "We will be here throughout the night and for a number of days. A tent has been erected which covers more than the specific grave we are focusing on.
"The families of those in the graves nearby will be contacted by us and reassured that there will be no disturbance to these graves. We would ask people not to be concerned, as families who need to be aware will be contacted and reassured by us. The investigation could take some time and is a very sensitive and difficult situation so we would like to ask the public and the media to be patient and understanding at this time."
Jayden's former boyfriend, 22-year-old Ben Blakeley, of Christchurch Road, Reading, Berkshire, appeared on Monday at Oxford Crown Court charged with her murder and perverting the course of justice by disposing of her body and lying to the police about the last time he saw her alive.
A 17 year old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also appeared before Oxford magistrates charged with perverting the course of justice between December 3 and December 10 by assisting in the disposal of Jayden's body and other evidence. More than 100 uniformed officers and detectives are working on the case, backed up by specialists from the National Crime Agency.
Mr Murray said yesterday there was "no indication" that Jayden was alive and appealed to people to get in touch if they remembered seeing the teenager "on her own, or in the company of anybody". He also repeated an appeal for any information about a man seen struggling with a suitcase just outside the village of Upton, near Didcot, in south Oxfordshire, at about 2am, on December 9.
The same man was later then seen with the same suitcase in the Lydalls Road area of Didcot - where All Saints' is located - at about 3.30am. Detectives have since recovered several suitcases, one of which "may well be significant", Mr Murray said.
Anyone with information is urged to call the police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.